Vancouver Island, it seems, is chock full of witches.

But, according to Lynn-Anne Hill, the producer of the recent Summer Witches Market in Metchosin, that may be a very good thing.

香蕉视频直播淭here are hundreds of covens on the Island. There are a lot here in Victoria and all over. There香蕉视频直播檚 a great coven up in Nanaimo,香蕉视频直播� said Hill, who readily embraces her 香蕉视频直播榳itchiness香蕉视频直播�, although she does not, herself, belong to a coven.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 a singular believer 香蕉视频直播� a nature-based witch 香蕉视频直播� and I live in the forest where I attract owls, bears and cougars,香蕉视频直播� said Hill.

香蕉视频直播淭hese are positive, wonderful, loving people,香蕉视频直播� she added, looking around the hall where dozens of witches had gathered. 香蕉视频直播淎nd each of them finds their magic in their own way.香蕉视频直播�

Moving around the market, it became apparent that Hill香蕉视频直播檚 assessment of the witches in attendance seemed to be spot on.

Karen Jones, for example, was entirely non-threatening as she tended to her broomstick sale.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 100 per cent witch,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 called upon to work my energy and these brooms have been made with intention.

She pointed out a broom made for a crone who needs help walking and another that draws on the energy of the ocean. Another broom had two heads attached to a single handle.

But do her brooms fly?

香蕉视频直播淥h, they will fly. Of course it depends on who香蕉视频直播檚 riding them. If you have the power and want them to fly, they will absolutely fly,香蕉视频直播� said Jones.

Notably absent from the Witch香蕉视频直播檚 Market were any of the negative characteristics of witches that have infested our folklore and media depictions. There wasn香蕉视频直播檛 a single cauldron full of hell-broth, newt eyes or toes of frogs.

In fact, the witches in attendance displayed none of the stereotypes that tend to accompany witch lore. Absent were the double chins, warts or toothless sneers that have come to characterize fairy tales and films. Instead, the witches in attendance appeared to be completely enchanting, blithe spirits.

And the people coming to visit the market and speak to the witches appeared to be quite at ease.

Of course, that hasn香蕉视频直播檛 always been the case.

In the fall of 1982, allegations surfaced of witches having formed a satanic cult that was sacrificing babies stolen from a Victoria hospital.  The 香蕉视频直播淪atanic Panic香蕉视频直播� put Victoria on the map for a time as the police even investigated the allegations.

Not surprisingly, those claims were soon debunked, and the hysterical fears abated.

Still, it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until the summer of 2017 that the Canadian Government repealed the last laws against witchcraft. (In fairness, those laws stated that it was illegal to "fraudulently pretend to exercise or to use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration". Presumably, if the witchcraft was real, it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 illegal.)

Actually, a lot of the discrimination against witches it seems, has always been found in a response to a feminist agenda.

香蕉视频直播淲itch means 香蕉视频直播榳ise woman香蕉视频直播� a woman who tends to her own feelings and checks with her own intuition before making decisions,香蕉视频直播� said Jordan Griffin, another of the witches at the Market. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really more of an intuitive, spiritual factor. Or sometimes, it香蕉视频直播檚 someone who believes in and understands magic 香蕉视频直播� in things that are unseen.香蕉视频直播�

Griffin explained that she used to host circles for women who understood the nature of the craft.

Sue Ferrie, another witch, reiterated Griffin香蕉视频直播檚 viewpoint.

香蕉视频直播淢odern religion is all about fear. Wicca is not. Wicca is about looking after nature and people. It香蕉视频直播檚 about women being in total control of herself, with no harm to anyone," said Ferrie.

Weighing in on the feminist side of witchcraft, Ronalda Katherine added, "I think all women are witches香蕉视频直播� and I don香蕉视频直播檛 mean that in a bad way. We all have women香蕉视频直播檚 strength and the ability to make things happen. Women can use their energy to make things happen. They香蕉视频直播檙e more in touch with their feelings and can project that more.香蕉视频直播�

With that in mind, don香蕉视频直播檛 imagine that Vancouver Island香蕉视频直播檚 witches are all about potions and secret incantations, or about some modern-day women香蕉视频直播檚 movement. 

At least that香蕉视频直播檚 not all it香蕉视频直播檚 about. Witches seem to have some fun, as well.

There香蕉视频直播檚 the British Columbia Witch-camp, for example. That香蕉视频直播檚 where witches come together each year for one week to celebrate, learn, teach, and be together as community. Although they don香蕉视频直播檛 specifically say so, there are some great bonfires and conversations and jokes as well.

Then there香蕉视频直播檚 events like the one hosted by the coven in Royston, BC. They dress in their witchiest outfits and paddleboard for charity.

Prizes are awarded for the best costume as well as the best cackle.

香蕉视频直播淲e bring a lot of energy to our events,香蕉视频直播� said Hill. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 no recruitment, and no judgement. This is just a wonderful, positive and loving community.香蕉视频直播�

And yes, they do have the odd love potion available for those in need.